STAFF at a travel agent in Cirencester have raised more than £3,000 by completing a 24-hour cycling relay.

On Wednesday, Steppes Travel started the relay to raise money for the Covid-19 Heroes Fund.

Beginning at midday, the non-stop cycle challenge was a virtual relay, with the baton passing from one socially-distanced team member to the next until midday the day after.

The target was to cover 500 kilometres inside a 24-hour period. This ambitious goal required the team to average 21 kilometres per hour over the entire challenge.

With cycling experience amongst the team ranging from the novice to the fanatical, the relay saw folding bikes, carbon-fibre racing machines and indoor trainers all working together to reach 500 kilometres.

Justin Wateridge, managing director at Steppes Travel said: “We are pleased to announce that within an hour of the challenge we had already reached the initial fundraising target of £1,000.

“By the end of the challenge, our team of 21 cyclists had cycled over 580 km and raised £2,678 for the Heroes & Heroines Fund – with donations still coming in and currently totalling over £3,000.

“Heroes, truly live among us. Those that care for our health, keep us safe, deliver us our provisions and keep this nation going.

“We hope that we can continue adding to our Heroes & Heroines Fund to give the holiday of a lifetime to a heroic frontline worker.”